13 Internships for High School Students in Houston
If you are a high school student in Houston, Texas, looking for hands-on work and/or research experience, an internship is the perfect place to start. Houston, one of the largest cities in the US, is home to many educational institutions and independent organizations that seek high school student interns, offering them the chance to explore career paths and potential majors before they commit to a college degree.
While in high school, an internship can also provide early exposure to the work culture in the city and help you develop essential skills like communication, teamwork, accountability, money management, and technical know-how required for your chosen area of interest. That’s not all — an internship experience boosts your profile as well as your college application, demonstrating to recruiters and the admissions officers your willingness to hone professional skills and get some work experience.
So, here’s 13 of the best internships for high school students in Houston:
Fields: Multidisciplinary—machine learning, engineering, biotech, AI, healthcare and medicine, environmental science, and more
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starting at $1,990. Financial aid is available.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who can work for 10–20 hours per week, for 8–12 weeks. The internships are also open to undergraduates and gap-year students!
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year. The deadline for the upcoming summer cohort is April 14, 2024.
Program dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts, including spring, throughout the year.
Ladder Internships is a fairly selective program; last year, it accepted only 70 students out of 700 applicants. The program offers virtual internship experiences, matching students with start-ups and nonprofits across the world to work on real-world projects relevant to the organization. You can choose from fields like machine learning, engineering, media/journalism, biotech, finance, software engineering, healthcare and medicine, and more. Check out all the options on the application form here.
What sets the program apart is its emphasis on mentorship, giving you the chance to work with experienced professionals. Students also get to engage with cutting-edge research and contribute to meaningful projects. In addition to working closely with the startup, each intern will also be paired with a Ladder Coach, who can be considered a second mentor and a sounding board, guiding students in navigating the startup environment. The program includes one-on-one skills training and group training sessions with fellow interns.
Ideal for: Students who want to explore the startup environment, work on a real-world project, and have a manageable workload as an intern.
Fields: Multidisciplinary—space science, engineering, aeronautics, technology, space microbiology, ecology, and more
Location: Multiple locations in the US, including Houston, TX.
Stipend: Most interns get a stipend based on academic level and session length.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale can apply.
Application deadline: Varies from internship to internship. Spring programs typically have an August deadline, summer internships have an October deadline, and fall internships come with a January deadline.
Program dates:
- Spring internships run 16 weeks from mid-January to early May
- Summer internships run 10 weeks from late May/early June to August
- Fall internships last 16 weeks starting in late August/early September to mid-December/January
NASA internships are worth considering for the wide variety of practical opportunities in STEM fields they offer. NASA provides internships at all its locations around the USA, including Houston, along with virtual opportunities. Look up available opportunities here. With a NASA internship, you get hands-on work experience by working with mentors like research scientists and engineers. The internships involve short-term work on a specific project. As an intern, you may be involved in designing experiments, analyzing data from space missions, or developing new technologies. This can help you gain valuable experience and insight into NASA's work.
However, the exact tasks can vary as per the opportunity. For instance, the Spacesuit Knowledge Capture Assistant position, an in-person internship opportunity at Johnson Space Center in Houston involves assisting with tasks like communication, event setup and coordination, and spacesuit knowledge curriculum development, among other tasks.
Ideal for: Students interested in pursuing a prestigious internship opportunity. They can find STEM internships or other opportunities related to business and program management work, including procurement, budgeting, accounting, information technology, and security.
3. Houston Methodist’s Summer High School Research Internship
Fields: Medicine
Location: Main Houston Methodist Hospital campus in the Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: None
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old when the program begins can apply.
Application deadline: The application period typically ends in early February.
Program dates: May 28, 2024–August 2, 2024
Houston Methodist’s 10-week internship is an opportunity for high school students to learn about and engage with translational research, which is research that focuses on the practical application of scientific research in healthcare. While applying, you can list 3 fields you want to explore during the internship. Then, based on lab capacity, you will be assigned a specialty, project, and mentor for the summer. Under the guidance of the mentor, you will learn about various laboratory techniques and work on the project. You will be expected to put in 8-hour workdays during the internship. The program also places an emphasis on professional development, so guest lectures, seminars, and networking events are also part of the program. Along with getting an immersive lab experience, you will also develop the skill of scientific writing. At the end of the program, you will present your findings at a poster symposium.
Ideal for: Students interested in medicine and research, specifically translational research.
4. University of Houston’s Mohan Lab Summer Internship
Fields: Biomedicine, medicine, bioengineering, and health sciences
Location: MohanLab, University of Houston, Houston, TX
Stipend: None
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors can apply.
Application deadline: March 31, 2024
Program dates: June 3, 2024–July 26, 2024
Led by Dr. Chandra Mohan, the MohanLab focuses on the diagnostics and therapeutics of autoimmune diseases and malignancies. It offers a 9–10-week internship to high school students. The first 1–2 weeks of the program are dedicated to introducing students to basic laboratory techniques. For the next 8 weeks, students undertake research work under the guidance of a scientist or graduate student. The program ends with the MohanLab joint laboratory meeting, where interns get to present their research findings. In the past, MohanLab interns have worked on projects like examining the potential role of various ECM proteins and RNA molecules in renal disease and identifying novel biomarkers for neuropsychiatric lupus. You can check out past project topics and intern profiles here. Some of the research could be published, and students can choose to continue their research with the lab beyond the internship period.
Ideal for: Students with a strong academic record and an interest in pursuing a career in biomedical, medical, bioengineering, or health-oriented fields.
5. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Summer Program
Fields: Biomedical sciences
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $6,800 ($6,120 if participating for 9 weeks instead of 10)
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors in Texas who are at least 18 years old at the start of the program can apply.
Application deadline: January 17, 2024
Program dates: June 3, 2024–August 9, 2024
The 10-week program, officially called the Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences, is held at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. It accepts up to 10 Texas students and offers them hands-on research experience in biomedical disciplines. The program also aims to give students a sneak peek into the life of a biomedical researcher. During the program, students work in MD Anderson labs five days a week, from 8 am to 5 pm, gaining a better understanding of scientific investigation. Students also get to attend seminars, where faculty discuss various research topics. Activities like abstract, poster, and elevator speech competitions are also part of the program. The internship concludes with a presentation wherein participants share their experiences.
Ideal for: High school seniors or recent graduates interested in pursuing an allied health major/career.
6. City of Houston Summer Jobs Program
Fields: Public service, administration, management
Location: Varies for each position.
Stipend: Paid, amount varies.
Eligibility: High school students in Houston who are at least 16 years old by June 10, 2024, can apply.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in March-end.
Program dates: 8-week internship starting June 10, 2024
Each summer, city departments of Houston invite students to work for them and explore city governance. If you are interested in public service, the City of Houston’s Summer Jobs Program is worth considering. You can explore available opportunities here and choose from a number of departments including accounting, police, public health, administration, parks and recreation, and the city council’s office.
Overall, you will be expected to work 32 hours per week for 8 weeks. The exact requirements and intern duties vary for each position. For instance, if you are hired as a student intern for the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, then you will contribute to the department’s mission of building a sustainable community and enhancing the quality of urban life by providing safe well-maintained parks. As a part of the department’s Recreation and Wellness team, you will be expected to help the staff with programming, exhibitions, and demonstrations for youth and teens.
Ideal for: Students interested in working for city departments and getting a first-hand look at day-to-day city governance.
7. DPR Construction’s Build Up Internship in Construction Management
Fields: Architecture, construction, engineering
Location: Multiple project locations across the country, including Houston, TX.
Stipend: Hourly wages as well as a transportation stipend
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates who can legally work in the US and come from families with an income below the HUD Median Family Income for the region.
Application deadline: April 12, 2024
Program dates: Varies but the program lasts for 8 weeks
DPR is a general contractor and construction management organization taking on projects around the country. Through its Build Up Internship, it offers high school students a chance to work in the job trailer alongside a project team on a major commercial construction project. Interns will get to learn how to manage a multi-million-dollar project and the tools required for planning, scheduling, and designing in the field of construction. Interns will be expected to spend 35–40 hours a week on an active construction job site, assisting with tasks like subcontractor coordination, quality inspections, document control, schedule updates, safety training, and site plan updates. The exact duties vary based on the project, but interns will be expected to work on an 8-week capstone project assignment. They will also get to explore roles in construction through this program.
Ideal for: Students interested in exploring and engaging with day-to-day work at a construction job site.
8. Sewa USA ASPIRE Internships
Fields: Public service, community service
Location: Sewa’s main Houston office and other areas of West Houston
Stipend/Cost: Unpaid. You will have to pay a $200 fee after being accepted into the program.
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply.
Application deadline: None
Program dates: Runs for a few weeks in summer. Dates are not specified.
Sewa USA is a non-profit organization involved in providing disaster relief and rehabilitation. Its ASPIRE program focuses on the development of children from low-income or refugee families. With the ASPIRE Lead Internship, the organization gets high schoolers involved in social service and community development. As an intern, you will offer assistance at Sewa’s volunteer events and ASPIRE tutorial centers. You will also assist with projects, interact with community members, and/or represent Sewa’s presence. You will be paired with a GIH intern (a college student or young adult) and may be expected to help them complete their project, which could include tasks in areas like public relations, event management, grant writing, and more. You will be expected to put in 50 hours of service during the internship, about 8–15 hours per week.
Ideal for: Students interested in engaging with non-profit work and community service.
9. High School Civic Engagement Internship
Fields: Public service and political science
Location: Houston, TX
Stipend: $750
Eligibility: High school students in Houston, TX can apply.
Application deadline: The application window closes in early February.
Program dates: The internship typically runs from mid-February to mid-May.
The High School Civic Engagement Internship Program is a collaboration between Rice University and the League of Women Voters of Houston (LWVH). It offers high school students a chance to encourage the youth to register and vote in the primary and general elections. This is a paid 12-week opportunity. As an intern, you will assist LWVH and Rice University in bringing voter registration events to high schools in Houston, contribute to existing civic education programming in high schools, and provide information and support to high school students to encourage electoral and civic participation. You will also help organize events, assist with logistics and communication, and work on promotional materials (flyers, social media posts, and videos) to encourage eligible voters in the area to register and vote. You will be expected to work for at least 5 hours per week.
Ideal for: Students who are passionate about the democratic processes and have basic knowledge about elections and electoral processes.
10. Texas Department of Transportation Student Internships
Fields: Multidisciplinary—engineering, management and more
Location: Multiple locations in Houston, TX. The exact location varies as per the position.
Stipend: Hourly wage provided
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old can apply.
Application deadline: Rolling basis. Internships are offered throughout the year
Program dates: Varies as per the internship
The Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) internships are meant to help high school students explore career opportunities and gain practical work experience in transportation-related fields. During the internship, you will also participate in training sessions. TxDOT offers part-time and full-time roles. The exact requirements and duties can vary for each position. For instance, as a Fleet Equipment Mechanic Intern, you will be expected to carry out entry-level repair work on TxDOT vehicles and equipment. Whereas, as an intern for the Houston District Public Information Office’s Communications Division, you will get to engage in administrative tasks and writing and editing social media posts, news releases, and media advisories. You can look for available opportunities here. You should carefully go through the requirements, position description, and other details before applying.
Ideal for: Those who want to explore careers and get some work experience in transportation and related fields.
11. University of Houston’s High School Summer Research Internship in Infectious Diseases
Fields: Pharmacotherapy, medicine, biomedical sciences, microbiology
Location: University of Houston, TX
Stipend: $2,000
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 can apply.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in May.
Program dates: The program typically runs for 8 weeks in the summer, starting in June.
University of Houston’s High School Summer Research Internship in Infectious Diseases is a highly selective program, only accepting two rising junior or senior high school students each year. The program is meant for students interested in pursuing a career in research. It offers hands-on research training, which covers learning about basic lab skills and literature reviews, biological sample processing, running PCR assays and practicing assays analysis. and exploring basic microbiological methodology. If selected, you will spend most of your time in the lab shadowing leading researchers and getting hands-on training in the generation and analysis of research data while also learning how to ensure the reproducibility of the data. You will also work on a project under the supervision of a program mentor. Additionally, you will participate in weekly sessions with faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students.
Ideal for: Students considering a career in research.
12. Rice University’s PATHS-UP Young Scholars Digital Health Summer Program
Fields: Computer science, physics, healthcare, and engineering
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors in Houston can apply.
Application deadline: April 10, 2024
Program dates: Session 1: June 10–27, 2024 | Session 2: July 8–25, 2024
Rice University’s PATHS-UP Young Scholars Program is unlike a traditional internship but offers hands-on research experience. The program introduces high schoolers to ongoing digital circuitry, computer science, physics, and engineering research at the university and its application in the healthcare field. Students will work with instruments like pulse oximeters, accelerometers, GPS devices, speakers, and microphones to come up with an introductory device that mirrors the technology being developed at the PATHS-UP engineering research center. Through the guidance of university staff, Houston educators, and graduate students, participants will engage with engineering research, learn about scientific writing and communication, build a network of peers, and explore various college pathways. You can reach out to your school’s PATHS-UP Young Scholars Digital Health Summer Program representative to learn more about the program.
Ideal for: Students interested in learning about current medical treatment technology and engaging with ongoing engineering research and its applications in healthcare.
13. Veritas AI Internship
Fields: AI, ML, computer science
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,490 (some financial aid is available)
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program.
Application Deadline: October 20, 2024
Dates: The start date for the upcoming cohort is November 11, 2024.
The AI Internship Program by Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the 8-week internship, students have the opportunity to work with VC-backed startups on real-world AI/ML projects. Students work directly with mentors from Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and more.
This program is a great opportunity for students who have prior experience with AI/ML and are looking to gain real-world exposure to a career in the field. Students get a chance to network with industry professionals, work closely with company leadership, and receive a letter of completion from the company at the end of the internship. You can learn more about the program here and apply here.
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries, with a large number of them in medicine. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!
Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard graduate.